FLAC to MP3 Converter
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FLAC stores audio losslessly, which is exactly why it sounds pristine - and exactly why it is large. MP3 is a lossy format that throws away information on purpose. Converting between them is a one-way journey, so it helps to know precisely what you are giving up before you do it.
FLAC vs MP3
| FLAC | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression type | Lossless - reproduces the source sample for sample | Lossy - discards audio the model predicts you will not miss |
| Typical size for a 5-minute CD-quality track | About 25-35 MB | About 12 MB at 320 kbps, 7 MB at 192 kbps, 5 MB at 128 kbps |
| Audio retained | The complete original waveform | A lossy approximation of it |
| Device support | Good on desktop players; limited on cars, TVs, phones and browsers | Universal |
| Best used for | Mastering and archiving | Distribution, sharing and playback on any device |
What is lost when FLAC becomes MP3
FLAC compresses with a mathematically lossless algorithm, so a decoded FLAC file is bit-identical to the audio that was fed into it. MP3 does something fundamentally different: it analyses the waveform and permanently removes components it believes are masked by louder sounds or inaudible at that level. Those components are gone from the file, not hidden.
So converting FLAC to MP3 always removes some audio information. The amount depends almost entirely on the bitrate you choose. At 320 kbps the discarded material sits in places where most listeners on most equipment will not notice, but the file is still a lossy representation and it is no longer the master. Nobody can convert a lossless master to MP3 and promise the result is lossless - the format does not allow it.
- FLAC is lossless; MP3 is lossy - the conversion is irreversible
- Higher MP3 bitrates reduce how audible the difference is, but never remove it
- Nothing in the original FLAC is recovered; data is discarded, not copied
- Your FLAC file is untouched and should stay your master copy
What bitrate should you pick?
Because your source is already clean, you are starting from an ideal signal, and a generous bitrate makes the most of it. For most music, 256 kbps is a good balance of size and fidelity. If you are archiving, remastering, or will play the result on expensive equipment, 320 kbps is the safe choice. For spoken content such as podcasts and audiobooks, 128 kbps is usually indistinguishable from much higher settings and a fraction of the size.
- 128 kbps - speech, podcasts, audiobooks; roughly 1.6 MB per minute
- 192 kbps - general music on a budget; roughly 2.4 MB per minute
- 256 kbps - a good default for most music; roughly 3.2 MB per minute
- 320 kbps - archival copies and critical listening; roughly 4 MB per minute
Keep the FLAC as your master
The usual workflow is to store FLAC and distribute MP3. Your FLAC archive costs about twice as much disk space as 320 kbps MP3 and can be converted to any bitrate at any time. A lossy MP3 can only be re-encoded downward in quality. If storage is not a constraint, there is rarely a reason to throw away the lossless original.
How to convert FLAC to MP3
Open the FLAC to MP3 converter, upload your .flac file, select MP3 as the output format and convert. Download the result and keep your original FLAC as the master.
What to expect from this converter
- Plays on car stereos, phones, TVs, browsers and any other MP3-capable device
- Typically 40-60% smaller than the FLAC source at an equivalent bitrate
- No account, no watermark and no installation
- Your temporary upload is deleted from the server once the conversion finishes
FLAC to MP3 FAQ
Is FLAC to MP3 conversion lossless?
No. FLAC is lossless and MP3 is lossy, so the conversion permanently discards audio information. A higher MP3 bitrate makes the difference harder to hear, but it cannot make the conversion lossless.
Will converting FLAC to MP3 sound worse?
Some information is always removed. At 192 kbps or above most listeners will not hear a difference on ordinary equipment, but a critical listening setup or a very revealing source file can reveal it.
What MP3 bitrate should I use for FLAC?
256 kbps is a sensible default for music from a lossless source. Use 320 kbps for archival or critical listening, and 128 kbps for speech or podcasts where it is plenty.
How much smaller will the MP3 be?
A 5-minute CD-quality track is roughly 25-35 MB as FLAC. The same duration is about 12 MB at 320 kbps, 7 MB at 192 kbps and 5 MB at 128 kbps.
Should I delete my FLAC after converting?
No. Keep it. FLAC is your lossless master and can be re-encoded to any MP3 bitrate later, whereas an existing MP3 can only be made smaller at the cost of more quality loss.
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